VIP Room 508, Imperial Clubhouse
Nina sat in the plush VIP room, her left hand holding a cigarette. As the smoke wound down, a young woman quickly placed a crystal ashtray in front of her, snapping Nina's drifting thoughts back to the room. Smiling faintly, Nina stubbed out her cigarette and pulled the girl closer, fingers tracing her chin in an almost lazy, predatory gesture.
"Sharp-eyed, aren't you?" she murmured, her eyes filled with detached amusement. The girl's cheeks turned pink, and she glanced down, whispering, "Not really."
Nina's gaze sharpened. "University student?"
The girl nodded, slightly embarrassed.
Nina assessed her with a new curiosity. She was young, clearly carrying that fresh-faced innocence that hadn't yet been eroded by the world. Though Nina felt no pang of pity for her—people in places like this rarely won her sympathy—she was somewhat curious. "Why here?" she asked.
"My family…my parents are sick," the girl answered softly, lowering her gaze.
Nina's smirk faded, replaced by an air of distaste. That response—the classic excuse of "family sickness"—struck her as both mundane and dull. Yet something in the girl's face caught her attention, a single mole near the corner of her eye. It reminded her vaguely of Selena's features, something soft yet hidden beneath layers of detachment and strength.
Cool fingertips grazed the mole as Nina held the girl's chin, her gaze hard. "What's your name?"
"Leon."
Nina chuckled, a glint of interest in her eyes. "How much do you need for their treatment?"
Before the girl could answer, the door opened, and Lily stepped in, interrupting them. Nina straightened, coolly gesturing toward a notepad on the table. "Write your contact information there. That's all for tonight."
Leon quickly wrote down a line, leaving without a word.
Lily settled into the seat beside Nina, eyes glimmering with a hint of mockery. "You're still having fun with all this, aren't you? Must be giving your family quite a headache."
Lighting another cigarette, Nina's eyes remained fixed ahead, her voice crisp and cutting. "Lily, your family's position has changed. You're hardly in a place to lecture me."
Lily's smile barely faltered. "Selena's seeing someone. You're aware of that, aren't you?"
Nina's smile vanished, her expression hardening as she turned to Lily. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I have a way to break up Selena and Tara. I just need your cooperation."
Nina's eyes narrowed. "And what do you want out of this?"
Lily's eyes darkened. "To get my mother back into the family. She made a mistake leaving, a fleeting passion that cost us years of suffering. That's been punishment enough, don't you think?"
Nina exhaled smoke, watching Lily cough and splutter before finally replying with a bitter laugh, "Fine."
With New Year's approaching, Selena had eagerly started planning a trip to Miami. She noted down every detail meticulously in her planner, practically glowing with excitement as she presented it to Tara. "Let's go to Miami for New Year's! I've already made a whole itinerary."
Tara took the phone, glancing at Selena's bright, hopeful face. Though she hated to disappoint her, she sighed and said, "I'm afraid I can't join you on the Miami trip, Sister."
Selena's smile froze for a moment, turning a bit awkward. She lowered the phone, confused. "Why not? Do you want to go somewhere else?"
Tara gently took Selena's hand. "My mother has been asking me to come home for New Year's. I really can't put it off any longer. But…" She paused, glancing at Selena's hesitant expression. "Would you come with me, Sister? I'd love to have you meet my family."
Selena hesitated. Meeting Tara's parents felt strangely daunting. During her college years, she had barely seen Tara's parents a few times, and they'd always kept a polite distance. She wondered if Tara would tell her family about their relationship, and the thought filled her with a mix of nerves and excitement. Finally, she nodded, giving Tara's hand a gentle squeeze. "Alright, Tara, just… give me a little time to think it over."
Tara smiled, reassuring her with a light pat on the back of her hand.
Iri the cat sauntered over with a little meow, rubbing her soft head against Tara's leg. Tara chuckled, scooping her up and giving her a quick kiss on her furry forehead before holding her out to Selena. "Look, Sister, Iri can tell you're feeling a bit down. Maybe she'll help."
Selena smiled, taking Iri in her arms and scratching Tara's palm with one of Iri's tiny paws in response. Her gaze softened, her eyes glittering playfully. "Iri has much better things to do than taking orders from you."
Tara placed a gentle kiss on Selena's forehead as she passed by to prepare breakfast, and the touch softened the knots in Selena's heart. She couldn't help but smile, making Iri wave a paw in Tara's direction. "Say goodbye to Ms. Tara now."
Tara chuckled, giving a little wave of her own.
Today was the day Wayne had promised them a decision on the contract, so there was no rush to get to the office. Tara prepared Iri's food and then returned to the kitchen to make breakfast for herself and Selena.
The kitchen soon filled with the sizzle of oil and the savory aroma of eggs cooking on the stove. Selena, having washed up, followed the scent and leaned against the doorframe, watching Tara work.
Her hair was tied loosely at the nape of her neck, with a few tendrils escaping to frame her face. She wore a soft, camel-colored sweater that made her skin look even fairer. In the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window, Tara's eyes shone like deep amber, her eyelashes casting soft shadows on her cheeks. Feeling Selena's gaze, Tara allowed herself a small smile as she cracked an egg into the pan.
Selena's heart stirred, the simplicity of the scene making her feel unexpectedly at peace. She put down the coffee mug in her hands and wrapped her arms around Tara's waist, taking in the familiar scent. For so long, she had never thought she'd wake up to someone cooking her breakfast. With Tara, her life seemed to keep finding new ways to feel whole.
It was almost ten by the time they returned to the office with the signed contract. After parking, Tara instinctively walked around to open Selena's door and extended her hand. "Sister, here."
Selena tucked the contract into her bag, and the dim lighting of the parking garage made her stumble slightly as she reached for Tara's hand. In an instant, she found herself falling into Tara's arms.
One arm slipped around her waist to steady her, while Tara took her bag with the other. "Are you alright?" she asked, concern flashing in her eyes.
Selena steadied herself, smiling faintly. "I'm fine. I think looking down at those documents too long made me a bit dizzy."
After a few steps, though, Selena winced, and Tara immediately turned, her gaze intense. "Is it your ankle?"
Selena bent down to examine it, and a sharp pain shot through her ankle as her fingers brushed against the swelling.
With a frown, Tara knelt beside her, using her phone flashlight to check. The bruising and swelling were obvious even in the dim light. She glanced up, firm and decisive. "Sister, you need to go to the hospital. It's swelling up badly."
Selena shifted, trying to mask the pain with a small, dismissive smile. "It's not that serious. We can go during lunch break. I don't want to delay the meeting."
Tara sighed but gave in, agreeing to take her during lunch. Selena exhaled a sigh of relief and took a step, only for Tara to stop her again. When Selena looked at her, a little exasperated, Tara simply handed her the bag before turning and kneeling in front of her.
"Let me carry you, Sister. Just get on my back; it'll be quicker."
Selena hesitated, but Tara reassured her with a quiet smile. "It's late enough that no one else will come down here."
Relieved, Selena climbed onto Tara's back, wrapping her arms around her shoulders as Tara carried her to the elevator.
From a dark corner, a man in a baseball cap snapped a picture, capturing their embrace in the shadows.